Page 56 - Simply Vegetables Summer 2022

Malvern Spring Festival
It all started back in February when the information and application forms arrived from the Three Counties Showground. The thirty odd pages looked very daunting at first, but when you read through them
you find out it was not all
applicable.
The team arrived on the Tuesday lunchtime heavily ladened with plants to create the display, but the marquee wasn’t marked out, so we didn’t really know whether we were to go length way or width way only that we had the corner. After conversation with a young Marquee manager,
it was agreed that we go
equidistant from the corner to help fill the space left by some Societies pulling out.
We started with the plant/veg display in the corner which would be on full view as
the public entered the marquee, then down one side we finalised our plant sale area and our ‘Growing early potatoes in pots’ demonstration and down the other way
we planned two quizzes one was ‘Match the veg to the Plant’ and
Judging took place on the Wednesday and when the show opened on Thursday, we found out we had been awarded a Silver Medal we all felt a little deflated (always hoped for gold), but as the day went on, we started to feel more up-beat as the public’s response to our stand was great, they really enjoyed and inter-acted with us doing the quizzes. Amazingly, we found the children knew more than a lot of the adults and many visitors asked if they could use our ideas at their shows, fetes etc. This is why we do these stands, not just to aim to win gold, but to promote the NVS to the public in an interesting and fun way, have a good time and boost funds.
The next day, Friday, we were told that HRH Princess Anne was going to be shown around our marquee, so 2pm
The next day, Friday, we were told that HRH Princess Anne was going to be shown around our marquee
the other ‘How well do you know your Seeds’ ....write down what you think each block of seeds is. Finally, we set up a “pricking out seedlings” demonstration area and lastly our NVS merchandise section.
After a couple of hours
on the go it was time for tea and cake, nothing new for the Midland Branch, but as it was one of our committee members, Martyn’s birthday,
a special cake was made for the occasion. Birthday break over, the team worked hard (and played hard) to get everything in place ready for the deadline.
Midland Branch Stand
56 Simply Vegetables